Ink solvent assisted heat sealable media

Abstract

A method of producing a print medium to reduce problems associated with the gradual dye-fade and color-shift of inks over time, and to provide improved resistance to physical handling is provided Specifically, a method can comprise steps of coating a media substrate with a porous coating composition of semi-metal oxide or metal oxide particulates to form a porous ink receiving layer, coating the porous ink-receiving layer with a latex layer configured to allow an ink-jet ink to be received at the porous ink-receiving layer, printing ink-jet ink on at least a portion of the latex layer to form ink-associated latex regions exclusive of non-printed latex regions, and heating the latex layer. The ink-jet ink can include an ink vehicle, a colorant, and a film promoting additive that lowers the film forming temperature of the latex particulates in the ink-associated latex regions. Upon heating, the ink-associated latex regions form a continuous film, and non-printed latex regions do not form a continuous film. Associated systems and ink-jet prints are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A printed image on a print medium, comprising:
 a) a media substrate; 
 b) a porous ink-receiving layer coated on the media substrate, said porous ink-receiving layer including semi-metal oxide or metal oxide particulates; 
 c) a latex layer coated on the porous ink-receiving layer, wherein the latex layer includes latex particulates having a glass transition temperature from about 50° C. to about 120° C.; and 
 d) an ink-jet ink comprising a film promoting additive printed on at least a portion of the latex layer forming ink-associated regions of the latex layer exclusive of non-printed latex regions, said ink-jet ink being received at least partially by the porous ink-receiving layer, wherein at least a portion of the ink-associated regions of the latex layer include a continuous film and the non-printed latex regions of the latex layer do not include a continuous film. 
 
     
     
       2. A printed image as in  claim 1 , wherein the latex layer further includes a binder. 
     
     
       3. A printed image as in  claim 2 , wherein the binder is present at less than about 20 wt %. 
     
     
       4. A printed image as in  claim 3 , wherein the binder is present at from about 5 wt % to about 15 wt %. 
     
     
       5. A printed image as in  claim 2 , wherein the binder includes a member selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol; water-soluble copolymers of polyvinyl alcohol; polyvinyl acetate; polyvinyl pyrrolidone; modified starches; water soluble cellulose derivatives; polyacrylamides; casein; gelatin; soybean protein; silyl-modified polyvinyl alcohol; conjugated diene copolymer latexes; acrylic polymer latexes; vinyl polymer latexes; functional group-modified latexes; aqueous binders of thermosetting resins; synthetic resin; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       6. A printed image as in  claim 5 , wherein the binder includes polyvinyl alcohol. 
     
     
       7. A printed image as in  claim 1 , wherein the film promoting additive is a diol. 
     
     
       8. A printed image as in  claim 7 , wherein the diol is selected from the group consisting of: 1,2-hexanediol; 1,6-hexanediol; tetramethyl-5-decyne-4,7-diol2,4,7,9; ethoxylated 2,4,7,9-tetramethyl-5-decyn-4,7-diol; tetramethyl-5-decyne-4.7-diol-2,4,7,9; 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol monoisobutyrate; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       9. A printed image as in  claim 8 , wherein the diol is 1,6-hexanediol. 
     
     
       10. A printed image as in  claim 1 , wherein the film promoting additive is a glycol. 
     
     
       11. A printed image as in  claim 10 , wherein the glycol is selected from the group consisting of: ethylene glycol; ethylene glycol n-butyl ether; ethylene glycol phenyl ether; diethylene glycol n-butyl ether; diethylene glycol methyl ether; propylene glycol methyl ether; propylene glycol methyl ether acetate; propylene glycol n-propyl ether; propylene glycol n-butyl ether; propylene glycol phenyl ether; dipropylene glycol methyl ether; dipropylene glycol methyl ether acetate; dipropylene glycol n-propyl ether; dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether; dipropylene glycol dimethyl ether; tripropylene glycol methyl ether; tripropylene glycol n-propyl ether; tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       12. A printed image as in  claim 10 , wherein the glycol is 1,6-hexanediol. 
     
     
       13. A printed image as in  claim 1 , wherein the film promoting additive is trimethylol propane. 
     
     
       14. A printed image as in  claim 1 , wherein the latex layer has an average thickness from about 0.5 g/m 2  to about 10 g/m 2 . 
     
     
       15. A printed image as in  claim 14 , wherein the latex layer has an average thickness from about 1 g/m 2  to about 5 g/m 2 . 
     
     
       16. A method of producing the printed image of  claim 1 , comprising steps of:
 a) coating a media substrate with a porous coating composition to form a porous ink receiving layer, said porous coating composition including semi-metal oxide or metal oxide particulates; 
 b) coating the porous ink-receiving layer with a latex layer including latex particulates, wherein the latex layer is configured to allow an ink-jet ink to be received at the porous ink-receiving layer, and wherein the latex particulates have a film forming temperature; 
 c) printing ink-jet ink on at least a portion of the latex layer to form ink-associated latex regions exclusive of non-printed latex regions, wherein the ink is received at least partially by the ink-receiving layer, said ink-jet ink comprising:
 i) an ink vehicle; 
 ii) a colorant; and 
 iii) a film promoting additive, wherein the film promoting additive lowers the film forming temperature of the latex particulates in the ink-associated latex regions; and 
 
 d) heating the latex layer such that the ink-associated latex regions form a continuous film, and non-printed latex regions do not form a continuous film. 
 
     
     
       17. A method as in  claim 16 , wherein the latex layer further includes a binder. 
     
     
       18. A method as in  claim 17 , wherein the binder is present at less than about 20 wt %. 
     
     
       19. A method as in  claim 18 , wherein the binder is present at from about 5 wt % to about 15 wt %. 
     
     
       20. A method as in  claim 17 , wherein the binder includes a member selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol; water-soluble copolymers of polyvinyl alcohol; polyvinyl acetate; polyvinyl pyrrolidone; modified starches; water soluble cellulose derivatives; polyacrylamides; casein; gelatin; soybean protein; silyl-modified polyvinyl alcohol; conjugated diene copolymer latexes; acrylic polymer latexes; vinyl polymer latexes; functional group-modified latexes; aqueous binders of thermosetting resins; synthetic resin; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       21. A method as in  claim 20 , wherein the binder includes polyvinyl alcohol. 
     
     
       22. A method as in  claim 16 , wherein the film promoting additive is a diol. 
     
     
       23. A method as in  claim 22 , wherein the diol is selected from the group consisting of: 1,2-hexanediol; 1,6-hexanediol; tetramethyl-5-decyne-4,7-diol2,4,7,9; ethoxylated 2,4,7,9-tetramethyl-5-decyne-4,7-diol; tetramethyl-5-decyne-4.7-diol-2,4,7,9; 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol monoisobutyrate; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       24. A method as in  claim 23 , wherein the diol is 1,6-hexanediol. 
     
     
       25. A method as in  claim 16 , wherein the film promoting additive is a glycol. 
     
     
       26. A method as in  claim 25 , wherein the glycol is selected from the group consisting of: ethylene glycol; ethylene glycol n-butyl ether; ethylene glycol phenyl ether; diethylene glycol n-butyl ether; diethylene glycol methyl ether; propylene glycol methyl ether; propylene glycol methyl ether acetate; propylene glycol n-propyl ether; propylene glycol n-butyl ether; propylene glycol phenyl ether; dipropylene glycol methyl ether; dipropylene glycol methyl ether acetate; dipropylene glycol n-propyl ether; dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether; dipropylene glycol dimethyl ether; tripropylene glycol methyl ether; tripropylene glycol n-propyl ether; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       27. A method as in  claim 26 , wherein the glycol is 1,6-hexanediol. 
     
     
       28. A method as in  claim 16 , wherein the film promoting additive is trimethylol propane. 
     
     
       29. A method as in  claim 16 , wherein the film promoting additive lowers the film forming temperature from about 3° C. to about 25° C. 
     
     
       30. A method as in  claim 29 , wherein the film promoting additive lowers the film forming temperature from about 5° C. to about 15° C. 
     
     
       31. A method as in  claim 16 , wherein the latex layer has an average thickness from about 0.5 g/m 2  to about 10 g/m 2 . 
     
     
       32. A method as in  claim 31 , wherein the latex layer has an average thickness from about 1 g/m 2  to about 5 g/m 2 . 
     
     
       33. A method as in  claim 16 , further comprising the step of printing on the non-printed latex regions after the heating step. 
     
     
       34. A printed image on a print medium, comprising:
 a) a media substrate; 
 b) a porous ink-receiving layer coated on the media substrate, said porous ink-receiving layer including semi-metal oxide or metal oxide particulates; 
 c) a latex layer coated on the porous ink-receiving layer, where the latex layer includes latex particulates that function as a binder; and 
 d) an ink-jet ink comprising a film promoting additive printed on at least a portion of the latex layer forming ink-associated regions of the latex layer exclusive of non-printed latex regions, said ink-jet ink being received at least partially by the porous ink-receiving layer, wherein at least a portion of the ink-associated regions of the latex layer include a continuous film and the non-printed latex regions of the latex layer do not include a continuous film, 
 wherein the latex particulates in the non-printed latex regions comprise an inner portion with a higher glass transition temperature and an outer portion with a lower glass transition temperature, wherein the higher glass transition temperature and the lower glass transition temperature are configured such that when the latex is applied at an application temperature, the inner portion is non-tacky and the outer portion is tacky. 
 
     
     
       35. A printed image as in  claim 34 , wherein the film promoting additive is a diol. 
     
     
       36. A printed image as in  claim 35 , wherein the diol is selected from the group consisting of: 1,2-hexanediol; 1,6-hexanediol; tetramethyl-5-decyne-4,7-diol2,4,7,9; ethoxylated 2,4,7,9-tetramethyl-5-decyn-4,7-diol; tetramethyl-5-decyne-4.7-diol-2,4,7,9; 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol monoisobutyrate; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       37. A printed image as in  claim 34 , wherein the film promoting additive is a glycol. 
     
     
       38. A printed image as in  claim 37 , wherein the glycol is selected from the group consisting of: ethylene glycol; ethylene glycol n-butyl ether; ethylene glycol phenyl ether; diethylene glycol n-butyl ether; diethylene glycol methyl ether; propylene glycol methyl ether; propylene glycol methyl ether acetate; propylene glycol n-propyl ether; propylene glycol n-butyl ether; propylene glycol phenyl ether; dipropylene glycol methyl ether; dipropylene glycol methyl ether acetate; dipropylene glycol n-propyl ether; dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether; dipropylene glycol dimethyl ether; tripropylene glycol methyl ether; tripropylene glycol n-propyl ether; tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       39. A printed image as in  claim 34 , wherein the film promoting additive is trimethylol propane. 
     
     
       40. A printed image as in  claim 34 , wherein the latex layer has an average thickness from about 0.5 g/m 2  to about 10 g/m 2 .